Defending champion Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) made a spectacular start to Women's Premier League (WPL) Season 3. The team chased down the target of 202 runs in 18.3 overs against Gujarat Giants (GG) in the season opener to record the highest-ever run chase in WPL history. Ellyse Perry and Richa Ghosh scored quick fifties to secure a 6-wicket win for the team on Friday (February 14). Previously, Mumbai Indians had chased 191 runs against Gujarat in 2024. Gujarat's captain Ashleigh Gardner scored 79 runs off just 37 balls before taking 2 wickets in the second innings, but Richa scored 23 runs in her over to lay the foundation for RCB's victory. Wicketkeeper Beth Mooney also scored a half-century. With the ball, Renuka Singh was the star for RCB as she picked 2 wickets for 25 runs. Mooney scored fifty After losing the toss, Gujarat Giants opened with Beth Mooney and Laura Wolvaardt who put on a 35-run partnership. Wolvaardt got out after scoring 6 runs. After her, Dayalan Hemalatha could only make 4 runs. Mooney stayed firm at one end and had a fifty partnership with captain Gardner, ultimately departing for 56 runs. Gardner hit 8 sixes
After losing 3 wickets for 85 runs, Ashley Gardner steadied the innings with Deandra Dottin. Both registered a 67-run partnership. Dottin scored 25 runs with 3 fours and 1 six. After her, Simran Sheikh scored 11 runs with 1 four and 1 six. Finally, Harleen Deol scored 9 runs off 4 balls. Gardner remained not out after hitting 3 fours and 8 sixes. She scored 79 runs off just 37 balls. The team scored 201 runs for the loss of 5 wickets. Other than Renuka who finished with 2 wickets, Kanika Ahuja, Georgia Wareham and Prerana Rawat scalped a wicket each. RCB win despite poor start Chasing a target of 202 runs, RCB got off to a very poor start. The team lost the wickets of opener Smriti Mandhana and Danni Wyatt in the second over itself. Both were sent to the pavilion by Gardner. Mandhana scored 9 and Wyatt scored 4 runs. Ellyse Perry then steadied the innings. Raghavi scored 25 runs off 27 balls and got out, she had an 86-run partnership with Perry. Perry also got out after scoring 57 runs. Her innings included 6 fours and 2 sixes. Richa scored fifty off 23 balls After losing 4 wickets for 109 runs, Richa Ghosh won the match for RCB. After settling in initially, she started attacking from the 14th over. 10 runs were scored in this over against Tanuja Kanwar. 15 runs were scored in the next over by Sayali Satghare. Bengaluru needed 63 runs off 30 balls. Gardner came to bowl here but Richa took her on as well and collected 23 runs from the over. Richa scored fifty off just 23 balls and sealed the victory for the team with a six on the third ball of the 19th over. Richa smashed 4 sixes Richa remained not out scoring 64 runs off 27 balls, she hit 7 fours and 4 sixes in her innings. Kanika Ahuja scored 30 runs off 13 balls, with 4 fours in her innings. Both had a 93-run partnership for the fifth wicket. Deandra Dottin and Sayali Satghare from Gujarat picked up one wicket apiece.Original Article